The book's title immediately caught my attention, and it lived up to its charming name. This book is an absolute delight of a romcom. It's filled with positivity and joy, yet I thoroughly enjoyed this easygoing read that revolves around the theme of long-distance love. Plus, who can resist the charming touch of baos at the beginning of each chapter?

The story beautifully portrays a sweet romance between a reserved, creative woman and a handsome firefighter

Thank you for the chance to read and review but after further consideration, I don’t think this is the right book for me.

This was a lovely read! I loved the romcom between strangers to lovers! I cannot wait to see if she does a follow up book! I want to see what happens next in their NYC love story!

DNF at 18%
Based on the synopsis, I thought I was going to love this book. Unfortunately the summary doesn't mention that it's based around a catfishing plot-I wrongfully assumed that Matt not knowing what Kimmie looked like was simply because she never sent a picture at all. Had the friendship been better established quite a bit before she chose not to correct him I might have been able to begrudgingly continue on, but it's very early on and I just can't keep going.

There are people who enjoy this type of theme and will likely enjoy the book, but I definitely think the synopsis should more clearly point it out.

This was an easy, quick read that I found entertaining. There was a lot going on and I felt like no ideas were completely developed, but I enjoyed the read.

DNF at 15%.

Now for the percentage of the book I did read, I was having a lovely time! I didn't know that the majority of the plot revolves around a catfishing of sorts and I had to DNF.

It's my least favorite trope and I didn't want to negatively impact and review a book that I wasn't enjoying. I think that this had so much potential to be great; however, the catfishing truly ruined it for me.

I also felt like the FMC was a bit immature with her dialogue.

Other than that I did enjoy the book and if people like that trope they should definitely give a chance on this one.

It's truly a sweet and funny book that's filled with lots of friends, innocent misunderstandings, and finding yourself.

I finished it all in one sitting and I loved it so much!! All characters are written so that you will love them all, even Frank.

Also, the whole firefighter x Etsy owner trope was so refreshing to me, and in a way, it felt like a fanfiction so I ate it up like a teenage girl reading a Wattpad story. It has its cringe moments but overall it's just sweet and heartwarming.

Kimmie is a quiet woman living in Oklahoma and runs an Etsy story My Crafty Bao but when her boss takes things too far Kimmie quits on the spot and twerks her way out the door and ends up in a viral video. FDNY fire fighter Matt ends up in her DM’s not knowing she’s the infamous woman miscommunication takes over there’s possible drama afoot for this insta love story.

This book is very sweet, full of easy fixes and major Insta love. All things that just did not work for me. Super sugary sweet, no bite and too much easy perfection for my taste this time around. But if you’re seeking a sweet and easy read - this is perfect for you!

2.5 stars

With thanks to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to review this book.

Crazy Bao You (great word play) was a DNF book for me. I just couldn't make myself to finish this book. I didn't care much for the characters who for me acted like children and I found them mostly annoying.

This was a quick to read, cute romance about a crafty young woman in Oklahoma who goes viral when she is filmed (unknown to her) while quitting her horrible retail job and telling off her boss. Kimmie tries to stay off the radar, working on the specialty pieces she makes for her Etsy shop. A fabric tote catches the eye of a New York firefighter, which he purchases for his grandmother. They strike up an online conversation and since Matt doesn't know what Kimmie looks like, he doesn't know it's the viral twerker the guys at the firehouse have been watching. It was fun to read how the two manage the big secrets in their life and eventually meet, with stuffed bao toys being the catalyst.

I didnt loooove Kimmie - she was a bit boring and I am really not sure why she deceived Matt for so long. I also felt that that storyline was wrapped up a bit too quickly.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC. All views are my own.

Can an Etsy shop owner in Oklahoma and a FDNY firefighter make things work when he doesn’t know what she really looks like?

I thought the general story plot and the characters were enjoyable. It’s two kids trying to understand their role in their families. The female main love interest was adopted and she gets the opportunity to reconnect with her birth mom. And I reckon with the death of her adopted parents. And the male love interest has lost his mom, and his dad still has some unresolved feelings about the loss. So we get to see them explore that together. The friends are good friends. The characters are passionate, empathetic, understanding. They’re both a little awkward at times, which I always find endearing.

I felt like the miscommunication, aspect was dragged on a little too long, considering the male love interest got over it in about two pages. Kind of made you wonder why I needed to be dragged on for so long if it was going to have so little pay off. Then there was a second miscommunication/slip up that also got resolved in about five pages. So by the time we got to the final tension point, it just kind of lacked punch. Because you were confident it was going to be resolved quickly. That third one also showed up about 89% of the way through the book. So you know it had to wrap up quickly because it’s almost the end of the book. There were also a couple little plug-in comments about how seedy parts of the neighborhoods in New York could be, like casually walking by a known drug dealer on the street. Those couple of comments felt unnecessary. And they didn’t end up coming back around in the story. So I’m unclear what their role was other than to make me feel weird.

But all in all a cute romcom.

The title of this book was fun, and it really reflected the book as well. The book was light and easy to read, and very cute. I love dual POV and think that this was well written. I would recommend this book!

I knew I would love this book from literally the first chapter.

Unfortunately due to society Kimmie went viral on social media for something she knew nothing about. She also owns an etsy shop of custom accessorie designs. Now that she quit her job and has gone viral she decides to be a true introvert and avoid people at all costs.

Matt comes from a a rich family and was fine working for his father at their company until the unfortunate death of his mother. After her passing her realized he wanted a change in careers and became a fireman....excuse me HOT fireman.

A true friends to lovers trope. It's so adorable watching Kimmie just be herself and Matt just sit back and adore her. They got along so well and was able to be their true selves with one another. I can't wait to see what the next book has in store.

Don't get me wrong, I love cliches, clumsy characters, funny characters, and even the most ridiculous scenarios. But this book only left me with one feeling: cringe. I cringed so much throughout the entire book and couldn't believe that this book was about adults. Like how does someone quit their job while complaining about their boss while twerking with their tongue out??? This was nearly a DNF but I wanted to finish it because it was an ARC and I felt obligated to complete it. To each their own and I encourage everyone to provide their own opinion. Full review on goodreads.

Can I say I am Completely biased when it comes to this book? Being a firefighter wife makes me have a weaknesses for all firemen. This story was cute and funny! I love Me a good rom-com. The character building was phenomenal. It’s hard to find a book nowadays that has good character development but this was nothing short of that! Would love to read something else from this author to get more of a grasp of her writing.

The title itself is such a cute play on words. But the actual book is so amazing! It was such a great and quick morning. Grab your coffee and go read! I highly recommend reading this one. You won't regret it!

"Crazy Bao You" by Lyn Liao it was a bit of a mixed bag for me.The premise is quirky and fun, no doubt about that. An Etsy shop owner from Oklahoma and a hunky FDNY firefighter from New York trying to make a long-distance thing work? Sounds like a rom-com waiting to happen. Kimmie Park and Matt West have some serious chemistry, and their online interactions had me chuckling more than once.

But here's the thing – the whole "he doesn't know what she really looks like" angle felt a bit stretched. I mean, in the age of video calls and social media, it's hard to believe they wouldn't have exchanged real pictures by now. Plus, Kimmie's whole debacle with quitting her job and becoming an accidental viral sensation – it's funny, sure, but it's also a tad overplayed.
Kimmie's Etsy shop and her crafting escapades add a nice touch to the story, and her inner struggles about her past are relatable. The trip to New York had me excited to see how things would finally pan out between them, and there are some heartwarming moments for sure.

The pacing felt a bit off. It's like the story was rushing to tie up loose ends towards the end, leaving me wanting a bit more depth and development. The emotional resolution seemed a bit rushed, and I was left wanting more of those heart-to-heart conversations that really make you root for a couple.

"Crazy Bao You" is a light read that brings some smiles and laughs, but it didn't fully hit the mark for me. If you're looking for a quick and breezy romance with a dash of online quirkiness, give it a shot. But if you're hoping for a deeper dive into the characters and their journey, you might be left craving more.

I was first attracted to the cover because it’s 100 per cent adorable, then the description really sold it. Crazy Bao You by Lynn Liao is a romcom filled with heart that had me laughing-out-loud on many occasions.

Meet Kimmie Park. She has her own Etsy shop and is laying low after a video of her goes viral. Meet Matt West. He’s a firefighter trying to break away from the family business and be his own person. When they meet online, it seems like nothing can go wrong. Oh, did I mention that Jimmie is using her best friend’s photo as her profile pic?

Liao dealt with some heavier topics in the story, like those of grief, fear, and birth moms beautifully within a comedic story. The themes of making peace with your identity, past, and family are ones that I heavily related to and found solace in. I highly recommend this read before the summer is out, and all-year long really! I cannot wait for it to have a permanent spot in my home library, and for the physical reread.

Thank you NetGalley and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Kimmy is focusing on her esty site and while she is selling her friend poses for a picture of one of the items she is selling. In New York firefighter Matt West buys from Kimmy’s shop online and when he sees a photo that he believes is her he begins to talk to her more than he was already. Kimmy lets him think that it is her in the photo, that is until she has to go to New York because her story is taking off. The two shall meet but Matt is going to be looking for the wrong Kimmy unless she tells him before. What will happen, this is a good story with good characters.